Government purchase of COVID-19 vaccines has been spared from the participation of the Philippine International Trade Corp., a State-run government firm that has been smarting from criticisms from senators and State auditors for its alleged snail-paced procurement of equipment and supplies by a number of agencies.

In a virtual briefing conducted by PITC for members of the House Committee on Trade and Industry, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez disclosed that so far, PITC has not been asked to take a role in the purchase of much-needed vaccines from international drug laboratories and suppliers.

“Sa ngayon wala pang role ang PITC, ang immediate procurement agency is PS-DBM (Right now PITC has not been given a role),” Lopez told lawmakers during the meeting with lawmakers.

Lopez and PITC President Dave Alimurung briefed solons on PITC tasks in the procurement by various government agencies of supplies and materials that can be sourced from international suppliers.

The two defended PITC from accusations that it had “parked” over P33 billion entrusted by agencies that relied on the State-owned importer to help purchase equipment and supplies.

Asked by Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo if PITC will be involved in COVID-19 vaccine procurement, Lopez said a special vaccine committee, not the PITC, will do it.

“PITC has not been asked to joint certain meetings pagdating sa vaccine purchase,” said Lopez.

Solons present during the meeting no longer commented on Lopez’s statement.

In the recently-released 2019 annual audit report for PITC, CoA disclosed that as of end of the year, over P9.17 billion from various agencies remained unutilized for a period of ten years starting 2009.

“These unutilized fund transfers were not yet returned to the concerned client-government agencies and or national government contrary to the provisions under Section 10 of the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2019 on the Reversion, Closure, and Transfer of Special Accounts,” said CoA.

Auditors also noted that interest earnings amounting to P581.135 million from money market placements of parked funds have not been recorded as PITC income, instead of remitting the money to the National Treasury.

Reacting to the CoA findings, Alimurung said a total of P324 million has already been remitted to the national coffers.

A check on 2019 annual audit reports of other agencies that were released this year indicated that PITC has delayed or has failed to deliver various procurement items from these agencies.

In a recent audit report, CoA blamed the PITC for the delayed delivery of three brand new aircraft for the training program being conducted by the Philippine State College of Aeronautics.

Together with the PS-DBM, PITC was also blamed by CoA for failing to deliver on time over P1.4-billion supplies and equipment paid for by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources last year.

The Bureau of Fire Protection audit report also chided PITC and PS-DBM for receiving P4.309 billion in funds for the purchase of supplies materials and equipment and the implementation of various infrastructure projects.

Despite receiving the allocation from the BFP, the two procurement agencies have failed to deliver the orders for several years now.

As a result of the snail-paced procurement process, CoA said the BFP was deprived of immediate use of the items which are crucial in the discharge of the agency’s operation.

State auditors said this has also “unnecessarily made the fund idle in the custody of the PS-DBM and PITC.”